Ahh…finally an off day. Actually, yesterday was my first off day for weeks. However, was pulled out by friends to meet up etc and ended up shoving my plans to tidy up my room till today (yet to do it).
It had been a tiring 19 days, sometimes averaging just 3-4 hours of sleep daily. Yet, I can’t really complain. Looking at how my room attendants work day and night, coming back to work on their off days, and especially those who lived in Malaysia, having to traverse to and fro (probably getting just 5-6 hours of sleep daily on a long term basis), I just got to admire them. Don’t forget, they’re doing manual, physical work. These people deserved better.
Well, now that the transition’s over, and the late December period is relatively low occupancy, everyone can finally lift our feet from the pedal for a while after a busy year. Hopefully, when they announce the bonus next year, it won’t disappoint us (cross fingers and toes).
Getting back to my Cambodia trip, which was like one month ago (time sure flies!), my third day was again another round of temple exploring. This time, instead of cycling left towards Angkor Wat, I took the much longer right route which leads to other ancient temples.
The highlight temple of this route goes to Ta Prohm without a doubt. Why, because this is where Tomb Raider was filmed and everyone wants their Tomb Raider moment.
It had been a tiring 19 days, sometimes averaging just 3-4 hours of sleep daily. Yet, I can’t really complain. Looking at how my room attendants work day and night, coming back to work on their off days, and especially those who lived in Malaysia, having to traverse to and fro (probably getting just 5-6 hours of sleep daily on a long term basis), I just got to admire them. Don’t forget, they’re doing manual, physical work. These people deserved better.
Well, now that the transition’s over, and the late December period is relatively low occupancy, everyone can finally lift our feet from the pedal for a while after a busy year. Hopefully, when they announce the bonus next year, it won’t disappoint us (cross fingers and toes).
Getting back to my Cambodia trip, which was like one month ago (time sure flies!), my third day was again another round of temple exploring. This time, instead of cycling left towards Angkor Wat, I took the much longer right route which leads to other ancient temples.
The highlight temple of this route goes to Ta Prohm without a doubt. Why, because this is where Tomb Raider was filmed and everyone wants their Tomb Raider moment.
We are Tomb Raiders wannabes
Apparently, many hundreds of years ago, the ancestors of birds, birds, picked up seeds of a species of tree called spung. Then, of all temples in Siem Reap region, they dropped it all over Ta Prohm temple only. On its roofs, ledges, walls, leading to them growing like the beanstalk Jack planted. Over time, the trees grew and grew with no one cutting them down as the temple was either abandoned, destroyed or the monks weren’t much of gardeners.
Smooth bark of Spung tree
Eventually, the trees grew on top of the temple and their roots spilled down the façade and walls. Some roofs tumbled under the weight of the spung trees, some under the weight of its own stone blocks making up the roofs.
Collapse
That late afternoon, I got back to Siem Reap town, experiencing some temple fatigue already. After a short rest in my room, I ventured out to explore the old market area and some local snacks.
Fried veg bun (delicious!), eggs, sugared pancakes
Asadid?
Don't ask where your chicken comes from
Bubble T
As was the previous night, I spent an hour reading at the quiet bubble tea shop before retiring back to my bed.
posted by Cylee at
2:58 pm I